2. The Honey
• Origin :
Honey is a viscid and sweet secretion stored in the honey comb by various species
of bees, such as Apis dorsata, Apis florea, Apis indica, Apis mellifica. Family
(Apideae).
• Geographic source :
Honey is available in abudance in Africa, India, Jamaica, Australia, California, Chili,
Great Britain and New Zealand.
• Description :
• Appearances : pale yellow to reddish brown viscid fluid.
• Odour : pleasant and characteristic.
• Taste : sweet, slightly acrid.
• Chemical constituents :
The average composition of honey rangles as follows: Moisture 14-24%, Dextrose
23-36%, Levulose (Fructose) 30-47%, Sucrose 0.4-6%, Dextrin and Gums 0-7%
and Ash 0.1-0.8%. Besides, it is found to contain small amounts of essential
oil, beeswax, pollen grains, formic acid, acetic acid, succinic acid, maltose,
dextrin, colouring pigments, vitamins and an admixture of enzymes eg;
diastase, invertase and inulase. Interestingly, the sugar contents in honey
varies widely from one country to another as it is exclusively governed by the
source of the nector (availability of fragment flowers in the region) and also
the enzymatic activity solely controlling the conversion of nector into honey.
3. The Honey
• Adulterants :
Due to the relatively high price of pure honey, it is invariably
adulterated either with artificial invert sugar or simply with
cane-sugar syrup. These adulterants or cheaper substituent not
only alter the optical property of honey but also its natural
aroma and fragrance.
• The nectar of certain flowers (Eucalyptus, Banksia) may give
the honey unpleasant odour and taste.
• The nectar from Datura stramonium, Rhododendron are known
to give poisonous honey.
• Uses :
1. It is used as a sweetening agent in confectionaries.
2. Being a demulsent, it helps to relieve dryness and is, therefore,
recommended for coughs, colds, sore-throats and constipation.
3. Because of its natural content of easily assimilable simple
sugars, it is globally employed as a good source of nutrient for
infants, elderly persons and convalescing patients.
4. Bee Wax
• Origin :
Beeswax is obtained by melting and purifying, the honey comb of Apis mellifica and other bees.
• Geographic source :
The wax is imported from the West India, California, Chile, Africa and Madagascar.
• Description:
• Appearance : yellowish-brown or yellowish-white solid.
• Odour : characteristic.
• Taste : characteristic.
• Solubility : insoluble in water and sparingly soluble in cold alcohol, but dissolves in
chloroform and in warm fixed and volatile oils.
• Active constituents :
Myricin (80%), free cerotic acid and lactones.
• Uses :
1- Beeswax is used in the preparation of plasters, ointments and
polishes.
2- Treats Diaper Dermatitis, Psoriasis and Eczema
3- is an amazing way to moisturize the skin and is commonly found in skin care products and
cosmetics.
4- Protects the Liver : have antioxidant effects helped protect the liver.
5- Lowers Cholesterol Levels
6- Relieves Pain and Is Anti-Inflammatory
7- Clears Acne Beeswax is one of the most well-known home remedies for acne.
5. Cod liver oil
• Origin :
Medicinal cod liver oil is a fixed triglyceride oil prepared from
the fresh liver of the cod (Gadus morhua) and other
specises of Gadus. Family (Gadidae).
• Description :
• Appearance : a very pale yellow liquid.
• Taste : slightly fish.
• Odour : slightly fish.
• Active constituents :
Vitamins A and D specially D₃ ( cholecalciferol ).
Saturated acid (myristic acid and palmitic acid).
Un saturated acid.
6. Cod liver oil
• Uses :
1. Prevention and cure of
rickets.
2. Reduce blood cholesterol
levels.
3. Protection against
cardiovascular disease.
4. Relief rheumatic pains and
joints.
5. Relief muscle stiffness.
6. It has extensive veterinary
use.
7. Wool Fat
• Origin :
It is a purified fat-like substance prepared from the wool of the sheep,
Ovis aries (Bovidae).
• Description :
• Appearance : a pale yellow, tenacious substance.
• Odour : characteristic.
• Solubility : insoluble in water, soluble in ether and chloroform.
• Active constituents :
Cholesterol and iso-cholesterol.
Unsaturated monohydric alcohols.
• Chemical test :
0.5 mg dissolve in 5 ml of chloroform, add 1 ml acetic anhydride and two
drops of sulpharic acid if give a deep green color (cholesterol).
• Uses :
Used as an emollient base for creams and ointments.
9. Gelatin
• Origin:
It is obtained by boiling the collagenous tissues of animals such as skin, tendons,
ligaments and bones with water.
• Description :
• Colour : colourless or pale yellow translucent sheets or glandular powder.
• Odour : little.
• Taste : little.
• Solubility : insoluble in cold water, dissolve on heating and 2% solution form
Jelly on cooling.
• Active constituents :
Protein (Glutin).
• Chemical test :
1% solution is prepared :
1. Millon’s reagent produce white ppt, on warming change to red.
2. With picric acid produce yellow ppt.
3. With tannic acid produce white ppt.
4. Heat gelatin with soda lime, ammonia gas is evolves (distinction from agar).
10. Gelatin
• Types of Gelatin: Gelatin is normally available in two distinct forms, namely:
A. Absorbable Gelatin Sponge: It is a sterile, white, tough, and finely porous
spongy, water insoluble, and absorbable substance. Even though it is water-
insoluble but it is adequately absorbed in body fluids. Nevertheless, it usually
takes upto not less than 30 folds its equivalent weight of water.
• It has been observed that 9 g of absorbable gelatin sponge takes upto 405 g
(i.e., 45 times) of well-agitated oxalated whole blood.
• The various uses of absorbable gelatin sponge are as follows:
1. as an effective haemostatic,
2. as a localized anticoagulant, and
3. when placed upon a surgical incision after being duly moistened with sterile
NaCl solution, it gets slowly absorbed within a span of 4-6 weeks.
B. Absorbable Gelatin Film : Absorbable gelatin film refers to a light amber
coloured, sterile, non-antigenic thin film invariably produced from a especially
prepared gelatin-formaldehyde solution by careful drying followed by
subsequent sterilization.
• Absorbable gelatin film is largely employed in the form of saline-soaked
rubber-like thin sheets chiefly in surgical repair of such observed defects in
membranes, such as: dura and pleura matter, where it grossly serves as a
mechanical means of protection, replacement matrix, and temporary
supportive structural wall.
11. Gelatin
• Soft gelatin capsules used for vitamin E.
• Hard gelatin capsules used as a vehicle for tetracycline, paracetamol
and chloramphincol.
• Uses :
1. For preparation gelatin capsules as a coat of pilis and as a base for
suppositories.
2. Bacteriological culture media.
3. Pastes.
4. For treatment of “brittle finger nails”, and “non-mycotic defects”
of the nails in humans.
5. Gelatin is used for weight loss and
6. for treating osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and brittle bones
(osteoporosis).
7. Gelatin is also used for improving hair quality
8. In manufacturing, gelatin is used for preparation of foods,
cosmetics, and medicines.
12. Prepared chalk
• Chalk is a whitish or grayish rock which is widely distributed in north
western Europe.
• It consists mainly of the shells of unicellular animals known as the
Foraminifera.
• Chalk as quarried of ten contains about 97-98 % of calcium carbonate,
the remainder being largely siliceous and therefore insoluble in acids.
• The impure chalk is finely ground with water and freed from most of the
heavier siliceous impurities by elutriation.
• The coarser product is sold as “whiting” and the finer elutriated product
is allowed to settle and while still pasty is poured into a funnel-shaped
trochiscator.
• For examination chalk should be mounted in cresol, warmed and
examined microscopically.
• Precipitated chalk ( CaCo₃ BP/EP ) is made by interaction of a soluble
ca++ salt and a soluble carbonate.
• Uses :
Used as absorbent and antacid .
